Energy Diversification Research Articles

Testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in terms of ecological footprint and CO2 emissions through energy diversification for Turkey

This research work analyzes the relationship between environmental degradation, economic growth, trade openness, primary energy consumption, coal consumption, and hydroelectricity consumption in Turkey from 1971 to 2015 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) time series approach through the hypothesis of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and ecological footprint are both used as indicators of environmental degradation, which employs six different models. According to the results found in this study, while trade openness increases CO2 emissions, it decreases ecological footprint in the long-run. Coal consumption raises both CO2 emissions and ecological footprint. While hydroelectric energy reduces CO2 emissions, it has no effect on the environment. The results demonstrate that the EKC hypothesis is correct for both CO2 emissions and Turkey’s ecological footprint. The threshold points are investigated as $18,704, $16,361, and $13,571 in models, where CO2 emissions are the dependent variable. In models where the ecological footprint is the dependent variable, the investigated threshold points of $11,824, $11,821, and $15,476 are higher than the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita during the analysis periods. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of renewable energy use in reducing environmental degradation and coal use in increasing environmental degradation. These findings can shed light on the importance of transition to renewable energy sources (i.e., hydroelectricity consumption), from fossil fuels (i.e., coal consumption), related to future planning in energy diversification for Turkey.

GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON ENERGY SECURITY IN NIGERIA: A CRITICAL REVIEW

This paper undertakes a critical review of the impact of the global energy transition on Nigerias energy security, particularly considering the goal of the National Development Plan (NDP), which aims to achieve significant economic growth and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, and the governments energy transition plan (ETP), which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. Achieving these goals, however, requires energy security, which poses a challenge for a country heavily dependent on fossil fuels as its primary energy source. The paper discusses the need for energy diversification for a plethora of renewable energy potential while emphasising the need for energy equity as the country improves the adoption of natural gas as its transition fuel. It also underscores the global trend to gradually phase out investments in new hydrocarbon projects that pose a significant risk to Nigerias energy security. The paper concludes by emphasising the importance of energy security to Nigerias economic growth and development and the need for the government to remain committed to sound policies and programs to adopt sustainable energy sources while staying in tune with global reality. KEY WORD: Energy Transition, Energy Security, Sustainability, Economic growth, Energy Transition Plan

Energy Diversification and Security in the EU: Comparative Assessment in Different EU Regions

Various methods and tools have been developed to quantify energy supply security; however, there is no ideal framework to measure energy security, as the concept is multifaceted and context dependent. Energy supply security has always been an extremely important issue for European Union (EU) countries due to high import dependency, and recent events linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have made it exceptionally important to reconsider this problem to identify the crucial issues and address contemporary policy needs. This study endeavours to systematise the primary energy security indicators in terms of policy relevance and develop an energy security assessment framework to examine energy import dependency and diversification for the EU in view of recent problems. This study introduces an energy import diversification and security index which enables measurement of a country’s energy security level for comparison with other countries and identifies primary areas for improvement. The proposed framework is then applied to a case study of selected EU countries to examine regional differences and identify potential improvements.

Strategies to enhance hydrogen storage performances in bulk Mg-based hydrides

Bulk Mg-based hydrogen storage materials have the potential to provide a low-cost solution to diversify energy storage and transportation. Compared to nano powders which require handling and processing under hydrogen or an inert gas atmosphere, bulk Mg-based alloys are safer and are more oxidation resistant. Conventional methods and existing infrastructures can be used to process and handle these materials. However, bulk Mg alloys have smaller specific surface areas, resulting in slower hydrogen sorption kinetics, higher equilibrium temperatures, and enthalpies of hydride formation. This work reviews the effects of the additions of a list of alloying elements and the use of innovative processing methods, e.g., rapid solidification and severe plastic deformation processes, to overcome these drawbacks. The challenges, advantages, and weaknesses of each method and future perspectives for the development of Mg-based hydrogen storage materials are discussed.

ENERGÍAS RENOVABLES EN AMERICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE PARA LA MITIGACIÓN DEL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO

In recent decades, climate change has gained interest in the international scientific community due to the constant increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (mainly CO2) and its consequences in various states in the economic, social, and environmental fields. Simultaneously, world energy demand has been growing hand in hand with economic and demographic development worldwide. In this sense, nations have been choosing to diversify their energy matrixes in order to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, betting on different renewable energy alternatives. This review aims to describe the current state of the Latin American region in terms of the deployment of installation and use of renewable energy alternatives to carbon sources. Dualities stand out between nations such as Paraguay or Costa Rica which almost entirely consume their energy from renewable sources and others such as Trinidad and Tobago which still depend mainly on non-renewable sources and must invest efforts in energy diversification. Similarly, there is an organized group among Latin American states in favor of renewable energy development called "Renewables in Latin America and the Caribbean (RELAC)".

Overview of the Russian Oil and Petroleum Products Market in Crisis Conditions: Economic Aspects, Technology and Problems

In the last decade, global discussions on the role of the Russian Federation in the energy supply system have continued to be relevant. Taking into account this context, the purpose of the article is to study the impact of the Russian oil and petroleum products market on sustainable development in the conditions of the “energy transition” declared in the country and to substantiate the mechanism of transition to a diversified energy model during the period of global geo-economic turbulence. The authors propose a methodological approach for conducting a comparative assessment of the level and dynamics of the development of the industry in the country and regions, based on the use of a set of objective indicators and the concept of taking into account the level and quality of life of the population. Using panel data on the country, federal districts and vertically integrated companies of Russia from 2005 to 2020 for empirical research, we found the determining influence of external and internal factors on sustainable development. The results revealed the problems regarding the current state of the Russian oil and petroleum products market. Summing up, it can be argued that the results presented in this article prove the need to solve industry problems and form innovative strategic directions of development in Russia in modern conditions of energy transformation.

Performance modeling and analysis of a PVT-HP system with the roll-bond plate as the evaporator during winter conditions

In recent years, PVT (Photovoltaic thermal) has attracted extensive attention in social production and daily lives. As a new technology with low-carbon output, environmental protection and energy saving features, the development of PVT will have great application prospects. Buildings need heating in winter, air-conditioning in summer, and, electricity and domestic hot water supply throughout the year. In the face of the diversified energy supply needs of buildings, the existing photothermal and photovoltaic technologies (irrespective of the photoelectric or photothermal conversion efficiency of modules, or the form of single-function module structures and solar energy utilization systems) are unable to meet the requirements of various energy uses of buildings. There are issues too, such as the large footprint of modules. To this end, this paper starts from the perspective of further improving the comprehensive utilization efficiency of solar energy and meeting the requirements of various energy uses in buildings. The authors adopted a combination of experiment and simulation to evaluate the performance of the PVT-HP (Heat pump) system in this study. The PVT-HP system is set up in Dalian and only runs for a short period of time to get necessary operation data. The simulation model uses a self-built PVT module and verifies its accuracy of the model through its operation date. With the proven PVT-HP model, the authors carried out a dynamic simulation and an economic analysis of the operation of the PVT-HP in winter. The operation performance, supply and demand matching, cost and economic payback period of the PVT-HP system were calculated, and the adaptability analysis for different regions are given. Finally, the nominal power of the PVT-HP system was found to be about 2.4 kW per group, the coefficient of performance (COP) in winter was about 4.32, the total winter heating capacity of the system in Dalian reached 6016 MJ, and the power production reached 168 kWh (which can offset 43 % of the total winter power consumption). The system heating performance was good for all regions, and its payback period in Dalian was found to be 6.53 years; the regional adaptability and economy were found to be ideal.

The Dynamic Nexus Among Energy Diversification and Carbon Emissions in the E7 Economies: Investigating the Moderating Role of Financial Development

ABSTRACT This study investigates the role of financial development in moderating the impact of energy diversification on carbon emissions reduction, using a sample of seven major emerging (E7) economies over the period 1995–2018. A panel cointegration test is employed to investigate any long-run equilibrium relationship among variables. The moderating effect is uncovered using a panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. The results from the cointegration test reveal the presence of a long-run equilibrium linkage among financial development, energy diversification, and carbon emissions. The panel ARDL model results indicate that the carbon emissions reduction effect of energy diversification is strengthened by an increased level of financial development in the long-run. Notably, a 1% increase in energy diversification accompanied by a 1% increase in financial development favorably moderates the carbon emissions reduction impact by about 2.11%. This finding is novel and contributes to our understanding of how financial development moderates the carbon emissions reduction effect of energy diversification. Based on this finding, appropriate policy recommendations are suggested to achieve energy transition goals in the E7 economies.

Energy management: DSTU ISO 50001:2020 and conditions of martial law

The authors of the article emphasize the relevance of the issue of energy management system functioning and its role for the country's economy and business entities. As the authors point out, this problem becomes particularly acute in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine. The article highlights that effective management of energy resources can contribute to the stabilization and development of the national economy, reduce dependence on imported energy, and diversify energy sources. The authors also emphasize the importance of investing in renewable energy sources and developing innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency, which contributes to environmental preservation. The article also stresses the need to adapt energy management practices to the challenging conditions of war based on the provisions and principles of DSTU ISO 50001:2020. It is emphasized that modern energy management faces a multitude of specific and critically important tasks, especially in wartime. These tasks include ensuring a stable energy supply, the rapid restoration of damaged infrastructure, promoting energy conservation, protecting energy infrastructure, and effective management of energy resources. Collaboration with government organizations and military structures is crucial, and communication with the public is also significant. All of this requires quick decision-making and flexibility, which are key to successful energy management in times of war. Particular attention should be paid to the consideration of strategies and decisions that can help overcome these challenges, including the wider adoption of renewable energy, energy conservation, and energy efficiency in the activities of businesses. In conclusion, the authors emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach and rapid adaptation to changing wartime conditions for effective energy management. They point out that such an approach will not only help Ukraine overcome current challenges but also ensure a sustainable energy future. This, in turn, will contribute to economic growth, environmental improvement, and national security.

Analysis on the Utilization of Renewable Energy for Carbon Neutralization in Sewage Treatment Facilities

Domestic wastewater treatment facilities(WTF) in Korea consume a lot of energy and generate greenhouse gases in the process of treating contaminated sewage. In response to climate change and the government's carbon neutrality, measures for energy reduction in WTF is an important issue along with water quality management, and simultaneously, diversification of renewable energy based on treatment facilities is essential. The energy independence and renewable energy utilization by facility capacity were analyzed based on sewage statistics (2019) and operation data of the National Sewage Information System. The amount of energy consumed by WTF was analyzed to be 83.6 million TOE, and the renewable energy produced was 10.8 million TOE. In consequence of analysis, the energy independence of domestic WTF in Korea was 12.9%. Among renewable energy, the contribution of biogas was the highest at 83.6%, but the current status of energy independence is somewhat insufficient to energy independence plan of WTF, requiring support for alternatives and policies to produce and secure additional renewable energy. In order to increase and diversify the use of renewable energy, the integrated digestion biogas of organic waste resources, the use of cooling and heating energy based on sewage heat, and the development of salinity gradient power generation were reviewed. Based on this, it was intended to contribute to the preparation of measures to achieve carbon neutrality in sewage treatment facilities.

European Union’s Energy Security in the Aftermath of Russia’s War in Ukraine: From Dependence to Independence

The war in Ukraine and the ensuing consequences for the energy supply of Europe, creates a turning point in external energy relations and the energy policy of the European Union. This turning point forces the revision of the EU relations with Russia and a shift in external energy policy in geopolitical and energy security terms. By examining energy relations with Russia and within the framework of energy security, this article attempts to formulate concise policy proposals in this new emerging environment. These policies are based on 3 axes: a) increasing energy autonomy through energy diversification, b) creating alternative routes of energy supply and c) protecting society from the consequences of the current energy crisis.

Стратегические тренды энергетического развития северных территорий России

The dynamic development of the energy market is the source of Russia’s energy diversification processes. The study presents key areas in the development of the Russian energy sector, taking into account new trends and challenges. The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is potentially becoming a growth driver for the energy market and opens up “new windows” for the country’s economic develop-ment. It is determined that the structure of consumption, use of resources, generation and transmission of electricity is changing. Long-term trends in the energy transition demonstrate a change in the energy balance in favor of clean energy sources: wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, hydrogen, and bioenergy. The development of hydrogen energy, including in the northern territories of Russia, creates a reliable basis for integration into the global hydrogen infrastructure. The change in the energy balance in favor of renewable energy sources (RES) is presented. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), RES will account for up to 95% of new energy capacity additions by 2026. The global climate agenda — the rejection of fossil fuels — creates new challenges for the Russian economy and the development of its Arctic investment projects. It has been established that the current situation in the context of global technological breakthroughs and climate change is shaping the transition from vertical integration to distributed generation and decentralization. The purpose of the study is to analyze current trends in the development of the energy market, based on the results of which it is necessary to adjust the approaches of the Russian energy sector to future development, making maximum use of the opportunities of the northern territories of Russia.

Electrical energy future of Saudi Arabia: Challenges and opportunities

The economy of Saudi Arabia is primarily oil-based, and the energy system is heavily dependent on fossil fuel sources. Electrical demand in Saudi Arabia has been overgrowing due to the high rates of both population and economy. The real problem is that most of this demand has been met by polluting sources, which in turn causes severe economic and environmental challenges. Despite the abundant amount of clean and freely available renewable sources, the practice of benefiting from these sources is minimal and modest. Therefore, the country has launched a promising vision, one pillar of which is diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on oil. Since Saudi Arabia is located within the equatorial Sun Belt area, the country is a candidate for leading the World’s renewable energy industry, particularly solar energy. This paper discusses the current energy policy in Saudi Arabia, the associated main energy-related challenges and promising opportunities, and the efforts and actions taken by the country’s policymakers to address these challenges and to take advantage of available opportunities–especially those related to electrical energy–to assure continued future prosperity for subsequent generations.

Energy Transition and Economic Development in China: A National and Sectorial Analysis from a New Structural Economics Perspectives

New Structural Economics (NSE) predicts that structural change in energy production would follow different patterns during different development stages and across different sectors. These variations require a range of policy responses. In this paper, we investigate this assertion by modeling China’s energy transition and economic development based on provincial panel data from 2000 to 2012. By using static models (Fama–MacBeth, OLS, fixed effect) and dynamic models (difference and system GMM), we find the relationship between low-carbon energy transition and economic development presents a U-shaped curve at the national level, but it is an inverted-U curve at the residential level. Furthermore, it is ambiguous in the agricultural sector and independent of economic development in the industry and service sectors. Institutional factors, natural resource endowment, environmental policy, and technological change influence China’s energy transition. Our findings supports NSE application in the Chinese energy economy and diversify energy transition policy by adjusting to the local conditions.

Urban transition and domestic electrification in East Africa: The diversification of energy in the peripheries of Dar Es Salaam

In the remote districts of the Dar Es Salaam periphery, low density and urban sprawl do not facilitate connection to basic urban infrastructures. Through the analysis of the district of Ilala, this article focuses on the modalities and effects of electrification of these areas located at the end of the network. Strongly supported by the inhabitants, TANESCO's access to electricity is finally made possible, thanks to the subsidized extension of its networks, thus quickly relegating the few off-grid backup electrical systems (generators, solar systems). But counter-intuitively, the arrival of electricity does not mean that other pre-existing energy sources (such as kerosene and coal) disappear. In these intermediate areas between the city and the countryside, there is rather an 'energy diversification', resulting from the widening of the available offers: users quickly adopt electricity to access new services more easily (television, refrigerator, light bulb) while continuing to prefer non-electric energy for other domestic uses (cooking and ironing with coal, for example; or occasional lighting and rapid cooking with kerosene). Less expensive, easily available, requiring minimal equipment, these so-called traditional energies will continue to be used alongside new exclusively electrical uses. This diversification is neglected in the country's energy strategy, which focuses on electricity despite the financial difficulties in implementing it. Documented in the literature, the explanatory factors of household fuel choices are usually centered on user practices, but more rarely placed in a broader perspective of understanding energy governance. By revealing the structural factors of energy diversification in intermediate spaces undergoing electrification, this article contributes to the reflections on the particularities of the energy transition in order to better understand the particularities of African urbanization.

Transition urbaine et électrification domestique en Afrique de l’Est: La diversification énergétique des périphéries de Dar Es Salaam

Dans les quartiers lointains de la périphérie de Dar Es Salaam, la faible densité et l’étalement urbain ne facilitent pas le raccordement aux infrastructures urbaines de base. A travers l’analyse du district d’Ilala, cet article s’intéresse aux modalités et aux effets de l’électrification de ces espaces situés en bout de réseau. Fortement plébiscité par les habitants, l’accès à l’électricité de la TANESCO est finalement permise grâce à l’extension subventionnée de ses réseaux, reléguant alors vite les quelques systèmes électriques d’appoint hors-réseau (groupes électrogènes, systèmes solaires). Mais de manière contre-intuitive, l’arrivée de l’électricité ne provoque pas pour autant la disparition des autres sources énergétiques lui préexistantes (comme le kérosène et le charbon). Dans ces zones intermédiaires entre la ville et la campagne, on observe plutôt une ‘diversification énergétique’, résultante de l’élargissement de l’offre disponible : les usagers adoptent rapidement l’électricité pour accéder plus aisément à de nouveaux services (télévision, frigidaire, éclairage à l’ampoule) tout en continuant à préférer des énergies non-électriques pour d’autres usages domestiques (cuisson et repassage au charbon par exemple ; ou éclairage ponctuel et cuisson rapide au kérosène). Moins chères, facilement disponible, nécessitant un équipement minimal, ces énergies dites traditionnelles sont amenés à perdurer dans les pratiques aux côtés de nouveaux usages exclusivement électriques. Cette diversification est négligée dans la stratégie énergétique du pays, centrée sur l’électricité malgré les difficultés financières à la mettre en place. Documentés par la littérature, les facteurs explicatifs des choix de combustibles des ménages sont habituellement centrés sur les pratiques des usagers, mais plus rarement replacés dans une perspective de compréhension plus large de gouvernance énergétique. En révélant les facteurs structurels de la diversification énergétique des espaces intermédiaires en cours d’électrification, cet article permet ainsi de contribuer aux réflexions sur les particularités de la transition énergétique pour in fine mieux appréhender les particularités de l’urbanisation africaine.

Desarrollo de una herramienta computacional para evaluar la diversificación energética de los sistemas de transporte en Colombia

There is a growing demand for energy consumption in Colombia. For this rea-son, the country wants to promote poli-cies for the diversification of energy in its the transport systems. Thus, it is relevant to evaluate the energy and environmental impacts of promoting the increase of zero and low emission vehicles. The objective of this study is to show the development of a computational tool that implements seve-ral models and allows for the configuration of different technology scenarios to deter-mine the impact of the implementation of zero and low emission vehicle fleets. To develop the tool, an agile software deve-lopment methodology is used, which faci-litates following a systematic process for its construction. Using the computational tool, the user can obtain results for short-, medium-, and long-term projections.

Azerbaijan’s Growing Role in Europe’s Gas Security

Ensuring Europe’s energy security and supply with energy resources primarily means providing natural gas. As is known, natural gas is one of the main resources that Europe imports. The continental countries’ need for natural gas is quite large. According to experts’ calculations, gas demand in Europe will double in the next decade. Although the total consumption of renewable energy is expected to reach 32 percent by 2030, natural gas will still be of great importance to Europe. Continental nations are trying to diversify gas supplies to Europe to reduce coal use and high greenhouse gas emissions. In this case, the competition for gas supply to the continent increases even more. In energy diversification, the main focus is on intensifying relations with the countries of the Caspian Sea region, that is, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Geographically located in the southeast of Russia, the region has a double advantage in terms of laying pipelines that will ensure the transportation of large undiscovered gas and oil reserves directly to Europe.

Distributionally Robust Optimization of an Integrated Energy System Cluster Considering the Oxygen Supply Demand and Multi-Energy Sharing

Regional integrated energy systems (IESs) have emerged to satisfy the increasing diversified energy demand in Tibet. However, limited resource allocation of a given IES can occur because of the uncertainty in the output and prediction error of distributed renewable energy (DRE). A distributionally robust optimization (DRO) model was proposed for the joint operation of multiple regional IESs, and multi-energy sharing and multi-energy flow coupling of electricity, heat, and oxygen were considered. The probability distribution of the DRE output was described using 1− norm and ∞− norm constraints, and the minimum operating cost under adverse scenarios was determined through DRO. Furthermore, on the premise of ensuring cluster profit, a pricing mechanism of the energy supply within the cluster was proposed. Finally, a typical model involving eight cases was established and analyzed. The results revealed that multi-energy sharing and multi-energy flow coupling improved the economy of IES cluster operation and realized the coordination of robustness and economy. The energy supply price within the cluster enhanced enthusiasm on the demand side.

Unanswered issues on decarbonizing the aviation industry through the development of sustainable aviation fuel from microalgae

Concerns have been raised about the effects of fossil fuel combustion on global warming and climate change. Fuel consumer behavior is also heavily influenced by factors such as fluctuating fuel prices and the need for a consistent and reliable fuel supply. Microalgae fuel is gaining popularity in the aviation industry as a potential source of energy diversification. Microalgae can grow in saltwater or wastewater, capture CO2 from the atmosphere and produce lipids without requiring a large amount of land. As a result, the production of oil from microalgae poses no threat to food availability. The low carbon footprint of microalgae-derived fuels has the potential to mitigate the impact of traditional aviation fuels derived from petroleum on climate change and global warming. Therefore, aviation fuels derived from microalgae have the potential to be a more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional fuels. Gathering microalgal species with a high lipid content, drying them, and turning them into aviation fuel is an expensive process. The use of biofuels derived from microalgae in the aviation industry is still in its infancy, but there is room for growth. This study analyses the potential routes already researched, their drawbacks in implementation, and the many different conceptual approaches that can be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel from microalgal lipids. Microalgae species with fast-growing rates require less space and generate lipids that can be converted into biofuel without imperiling food security. The key challenges in algal-based aviation biofuel include decreased lipid content, harvesting expenses, and drying procedure that should be enhanced and optimized to increase process viability.